Despite the whales feeding a mile away from the shore – and often a mile deep – our plastic rubbish is leading to the deaths of whales.

For the first time, a whale washed up off the coast of Skye was found to have plastic bags coiled up in it stomach that caused its death.

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For the first time, a whale washed up off the coast of Skye was found to have plastic bags coiled up in it stomach that caused its death

PLASTIC IN THE OCEANS

Experts estimate there are five trillion pieces of plastic litter floating on the world’s oceans, discarded by a throw-away society and killing countless animals a year.

It has been estimated that by 2050 there will be more plastic in the sea than fish.

An estimated 100 billion carrier bags are used every year in Europe - with 8 billion ending up as litter.

The adult, 20ft-long Beaked Cuvier whale was in good condition – apart from over four kg (0.6 stone) of plastic bags in its guts.

They included bin liners, zip bags and freezer bags.

In a similar case off the coast of Bergen, Norway, another Beaked Cuvier whale died after eating large numbers of plastic bags including some from the UK – including a multipack wrapper of Walker's crisps.

The whale has been dubbed 'Plasthvalen' in Norway – the Plastic Whale – and scientists are urging the public to be more responsible about disposing of plastic bags and wrappers.

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Dr Andrew Brownlow, who carried out the Skye necropsy, said of the plastic: 'For every one of these pieces it is possible that there would have been some form of human action that could have stopped it from getting into the marine environment.

He added: 'If you assume that what this whale has done is sample a small section of ocean, then this is astonishing.

'This was an animal that went to places that are very difficult for us to go and sample and sadly paid pretty much the ultimate price for that.'

The adult, 20ft-long Beaked Cuvier whale was in good condition – apart from over four kg (0.6 stone) of plastic bags in its guts. They included bin liners, zip bags and freezer bags

The whale was examined by researchers in the waters where it was found

His colleague Mariel ten Doeschate, of the Scottish Marine Animal Stranding Scheme said that the Skye stranding is the first recorded where eating plastic bags has been the cause of death out of 4,000 cases.

But she said: 'Nevertheless this case as well as the Cuvier's beaked whale that live stranded in Norway and was found to also have significant amounts of plastic in the stomach, may suggest that this species and the way they behave and / or feed makes them particularly vulnerable to the effects of plastic in the marine environment.

'And of course any one animal that dies from the effects of plastic debris is one too many, and we should take action to stop more plastic entering the marine environment as a matter of urgency.'

The Skye stranding is the first recorded where eating plastic bags has been the cause of death out of 4,000 cases

The Daily Mail has long campaigned to stop plastic waste polluting the environment.

Having successfully led calls to create a charge on plastic bags with the Banish the Bags campaign, this newspaper is now campaigning to Banish the Bottles – by bringing in a deposit scheme on plastic bottles to stop them spoiling our seas, beaches and countryside.

Researchers believe whales are eating plastic bags because – in the dark depths of the ocean they mistake them for squid when they detect them using their sonar.

Ms ten Doeschate added that the impact of the plastic had irritated and inflamed the stomach and intestinal walls, and that the 'plastic impaction was very significant and likely very sore, causing the animal to drift into shallower waters and live strand'

Ms ten Doeschate added that the impact of the plastic had irritated and inflamed the stomach and intestinal walls, and that the 'plastic impaction was very significant and likely very sore, causing the animal to drift into shallower waters and live strand.'

She added: 'About a year later another Cuvier's beaked whale live stranded west of Bergen, in Norway.

'This animal was also found to have ingested a significant amount of plastic bags sufficient to form a space occupying mass in the stomach, preventing prey from being digested leading to starvation of the animal.'

Ms ten Doeschate said: 'And of course any one animal that dies from the effects of plastic debris is one too many, and we should take action to stop more plastic entering the marine environment as a matter of urgency'